Textile material with soil release characteristics

ABSTRACT

A process for producing improved textile material with soil release characteristics which comprises applying thereto a soil release composition and a chelating agent, and the product produced by this process.

United States Patent Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee TEXTILE MATERIALWITH SOIL RELEASE CHARACTERISTICS 12 Claims, No Drawings US. Cl..;1l7/l38.8 F,

117/1394, 117/139.5 A, 117/143 A Int. Cl M 5/00, B321) 27/06 FieldofSearch 117/139.5

R,139.4, 138.8 F, 143 R, 66; 8/115.6; 252/8.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re1 9 ,7 l 9 10/1935 Hall210/57 2,709,178 5/1955 Schlapfer et al. 260/534 3,044,962 7/1962 Bruntetal 117/1395 UX 3,377,249 4/1968 Marco 8/1 15.6

Pnmary ExaminerWilliam D. Martin Assistant ExaminerTheodore G. DavisAttorneysNorman C. Annitage and H. William Petry ABSTRACT: A process forproducing improved textile material with soil release characteristicswhich comprises applying thereto a soil release composition and achelating agent, and the product produced by this process.

TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH SOIL RELEASE CHARACTERISTICS The textile industryduring the past decade has made important technological advances in thechemical finishing of textile materials. Numerous processes have beendeveloped for imparting minimum care properties to garments and otherarticles prepared from specially treated textile materials. Among suchadvances are wash and wear and durable press fabrics.

Recently a great deal of interest has been directed toward impartingsoil release characteristics to textile materials and particularlywrinkle resistant textile materials (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,249). Withfabrics having soil release properties, it is possible to remove soiland stains to a substantially greater extent with conventional homelaundering than is possible with fabrics without soil release. Soilrelease characteristics are particularly important with textilematerials including hydrophobic fibers, e.g., polyesters, since suchmaterials generally tend to retain stains to a greater degree and toabsorb soil from wash water during laundering. Both of these problemsare substantially eliminated by treatment with soil release chemicals.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found thatimproved handle, flat dry and less static accumulation is provided intextile material with soil release characteristics by a process whichcomprises applying thereto a soil release composition and a chelatingagent.

The chelating agent employed in the present invention may be one of thewell-known materials employed for the chelation of metallic ions. Thechelating agent may have affinity for one specific metallic ion or maybe useful with several different metallic ions. The particular chelatingagent selected will depend upon the metallic ions which are present onthe textile material. Useful chelating agents include acetic acids suchas nitrilotriacetic acid. Also, suitable are derivatives of polyaceticacids and particularly amino polyacetic acids such as ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid. In addition to the acids per se, various monosalts orpolysalts of such acids may be employed, for example, di-, tri-,tetraand penta-sodium salts of the previously mentioned acids. Examplesof other suitable chelating agents include derivatives of glycine suchas sodium hydroxyethyl glycinate and the disodium salt ofethanoldiglycine. The chelating agent preferably is applied in anaqueous medium.

The particular chelating agent is selected to provide chelation of themetallic ions in the pH range of the textile material. The pH of thetextile material advantageously may be raised through the use of analkaline material such as a hydroxide, e.g., ammonium hydroxide; analkali metal salt, e.g., sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodiumbicarbonate, sodium acetate; and the like. Such alkaline materials areparticularly useful to neutralize the textile material when the textilematerial is in an acidic condition. On the other hand, where a textilematerial is at a pH above 7,small amounts of an acidic material may beutilized to efiect neutralization.

The chelating agent may be applied together with the soil releasechemicals or may be applied sequentially therewith. The proportion ofthe chelating agent advantageously comprises between about 0.05 percentand 5 percent of an aqueous'bath and preferably between about 0.1percent and 3 percent thereof. Preferably, the proportion of thealkaline material also is within the above ranges.

The process of the present invention is useful in the treatment of awide variety of textile materials made from natural or synthetic fibersor blends of such fibers. Examples of natural fibers include cotton,linen and flax. Suitable synthetic fibers include both regeneratedcellulose fibers such as viscose rayon and synthetic polymeric fibers,for example, polyamides, acrylics and particularly polyesters and blendsthereof. Durable press and wash and wear garments and articles generallyare made from blends of polyester and cellulosic fibers such as cottonor rayon. While the textile material undergoing treatment is preferablyin the form of a fabric, the process of the invention also may be usedto treat fibers, yarns, threads and the like.

The soil release composition employed in the process of the presentinvention may include one or more of a large number of different soilrelease compounds and chemicals, for example, synthetic acid polymers,low-molecular-weight polyesters, fluorochemicals, and polymerizablemonomers ,of such compounds for in situ formation of the soil releasecomposition.

Synthetic acid polymers suitable as the soil release composition of thepresent invention maybe prepared from any of the polymerizable organicacids, e.g., those having reactive points of unsaturation, e.g., one ofthe acrylic acids. These polymers may be homopolymers of the acidsorinterpolymers of an acid and other monomers copolymerizable therewithprovided at least 10 percent by weight acid is present inlthe polymer.Examples of suitable polymerizable acids are acrylic acid, maleic acid,fumaric acid, methacrylic acid, itaconlc acid, crotonic acid, cinnamicacid, polymerizable sulfonic acids, polymerizable phosphoric acids, etc.Monomers that may be interpolymerized with the above acids are monomers,capable of copolymerizing with the acids whichwill not adversely affectthe polymer. Suitablemonomers include esters of the above acids preparedby reacting an acidwith an alkyl alcohol, e.g., acrylic esters such asethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate,methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate,2-ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, etc.; alkyl fumarates, maleates,crotonates, cinnamates, etc.; vinyl halides; monomers having. vinylidenegroups; e.g., styrene, acrylonitrile, methylstyrene; substituted vinylmonomers, e.g., chlorostyrene, butadiene, etc. Various mixtures of theabove polymers also may be employed in the process of the presentinvention as well as salts of the acid polymers, e.g., sodium,potassium, lithium, ammonium salts, etc.

Examples of synthetic acid polymers that may be used in the process ofthe present invention include the following combinations:

ethyl acrylate acrylic acid ethyl acrylate acrylic acid acrylamide butylacrylate acrylic acid ethyl acrylate: methacrylic acid ethyl acrylateitaconic acid methyl methacrylate acrylic acid 2-ethyl hexyl acrylateacrylic acid acrylamide acrylic acid butyl acrylate acrylic acidacrylamide ethyl acrylate acrylic acid N-methylol acrylamide ethylacrylate acrylic acid styrene ethyl acrylate: acrylic acid:hydroxypropyl methacrylate ethyl acrylate acrylic acid :divinyl benzeneethyl acrylate acrylic acid allyl acrylamide ethyl acrylate acrylic acidglycidyl acrylate ethyl acrylate: sodium styrene sulfonate ethylacrylate crotonic acid styrene acrylic acid ethyl acrylate: acrylicacid: hydroxyethyl methacrylate hydroxyethyl methacrylate acrylic acidacrylamide butyl acrylate ethyl acrylate acrylic acid As noted above,the acid polymer should contain at least about 10 percent by weight acidcalculated as acrylic acid. Preferably, the acid polymer contains atleast about 20 percent by weight acid and particularly between about 30percent and percent acid. Copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acidwith an acrylate ester such as ethylacrylate are considered to beespecially useful.

The soil release composition preferably is applied in an aqueous medium.Advantageously, between about 0.5 percent and 20 percent and preferablybetween about 1 percent and 10 percent by weight of the soil releasechemical is present in the aqueous solution or dispersion. In terms ofthe proportion of the soil release chemical on the textile material, itis desirable to have between about 0.2 percent and 10 percent by weightthereof based on the dry weight of. the textile material and preferablybetween about 0.5 percent and 5 percent by weight.

The soil release composition may include other ingredients in additionto the soil release chemicals, for example, emulsifying agents, wettingagents, softeners and other compounds that enhance the physicalcharacteristics of the textile materials. Durable press or wash and wearcharacteristics may be achieved by the application to a fabric of atextile resin or a vinyl monomer with dual functionality. Suchmaterials, together with any required catalysts, may be appliedsimultaneously with the soil release composition or sequentiallytherewith.

The term textile resin" according to the present invention includes bothmonomers and polymers which upon application to a textile material,undergo polymerization and/or condensation and are transformed to athermoset state. Textile resins that may be employed when practicing thepresent invention include epoxy, acetal, aminoplast resins, etc., withaminoplast resins being preferred. These nitrogen-containing resins whenapplied to a textile material in the presence of a catalyst attemperatures between about 100 and 300 C. are transformed to a thermosetstate. The cured textile resin on the textile material affords thetextile material durable press and/or wrinkle resistant characteristics.

Exemplary of the preferred aminoplast textile resins that may beemployed according to the present invention are the urea formaldehydes,e.g., propylene urea formaldehyde, dimethylol urea formaldehyde, etc.;melamine formaldehydes, e.g., tetramethylol melamines, pentamethylolmelamines, etc.; ethylene ureas, e.g., dimethylol ethylene urea,dihydroxy dimethylol ethylene urea, hydroxy ethylene urea formaldehyde,etc., carbamates, e.g., alkyl carbamate formaldehydeacetone condensationproducts; diureas, e.g., trimethylol acetylene diruea,tetramethylol-acetylene diurea, etc., triazones, e.g.,dimethylol-N-ethyl triazone, N-N' ethylene-bis dimethylol triazone,halotriazones, etc., haloacetamides, e.g.,N-methylol-N-methylchloroacetamide, etc., urons, e.g., dimethylol uron,dihydroxy dimethylol uron, etc., and the like. Mixtures of aminoplasttextile resins also are within the scope of the present invention.

Vinyl monomers having dual functionality within the scope of the presentinvention include acrylamide compounds, e.g., N-rnethylol acrylamide,N-methylol methacrylamide, N- methylol-N-methacrylamide, Nmethylmethylolacrylamide, N-methylol methylene-bis-(acrylamide), methylene-bis(N-methylol acrylamide), etc.; haloethylene acrylamide; and similarcompounds which are defined by the structural formulas set forth in U.S.Pat. No. 3,377,249.

The amount of textile resin or vinyl monomers with dual functionalityapplied to the fabric is primarily determined by the ultimate use ofgarments or articles prepared from the fabric. Very small amounts willafford some improvements and large amounts greater improvements, but thelarger amounts may adversely affect the handle of the fabric. Hence, theamount employed is preferably that which will afford good creaseretention and flat dry properties while not adversely affecting thehand. For the purposes of the present invention, the amount of textileresin or vinyl monomer in the pad bath may be between about 2 percentand 30 percent. The proportion present on the fabric should be betweenabout 2 percent and 20 percent based on the dry weight of the fabric andpreferably betweeh about 4 percent and 9 percent.

The catalyst employed in the process of the present invention willdepend upon the specific textile resin or vinyl monomer that is appliedto the textile material. For instance, if the textile resin has afunctional group that is reactive under acidic conditions, an acidcatalyst is used. Likewise, when a functional group is present that isreactive under basic conditions, a base catalyst is used. Furthermore,both acid and base catalysts may be used when both type functionalgroups are present in the textile resin. In this instance, the catalystmay be added separately or simultaneously. When added simultaneously,one would be a latent catalyst, i.e., one that will not initiate itsreaction during the opposite-type reaction, but will be activatedsubsequently under proper catalytic conditions.

The catalysts useful in activating the acid or base reactive groups arethose conventionally used to activate the reaction of textile resinscontaining the same group. Preferably, latent acid or base actingcatalysts are utilized, that is, compounds which are acidic or basic incharacter under curing conditions. The most common acid acting catalystsare metal salts, for example, magnesium chloride, zinc nitrate and zincfluoborate and amino salts, for example, monoethanolamine hydrochlorideand 2-amino-2-methyl-propanol nitrate.

The base acting catalyst preferably is a compound which does notinitiate significant reaction of the base reactive group under normalacid conditions, but does initiate substantial reaction under particularconditions such as elevated temperature or through the use of anotherchemical compound. For example, an alkali metal sulfite can be paddedonto the fabric and be decomposed into strongly basic alkali metalhydroxide by including small amounts of formaldehyde in the steam usedfor curing.

The latent base acting catalyst utilized herein preferably comprises analkali metal salt such as an alkali metal carbonate, e.g., sodiumcarbonate, which is neutral to mildly alkaline on the fabric butdecomposes at temperatures in excess of about C. to form the strongerbase sodium oxide which will initiate substantial reaction at theelevated temperatures utilized during curing. Sodium carbonate may beutilized if desired since the pH on the fabric produced by this compoundunder normal conditions generally is insufiicient to initiate thedesired degree of reaction at temperatures normally employed. If fabricscontaining a base reactive group are maintained at pH levels above about10, however, degradation may occur so that essentially neutral or mildlyalkaline catalysts are preferred when base reactive compounds areutilized.

Suitable base acting catalysts include potassium bicarbonate, potassiumcarbonate, sodium silicate, alkali metal phosphates such as sodium orpotassium phosphates, barium carbonate, quaternary ammonium hydroxidesand carbonates, for example, lauryl trimethyl ammonium hydroxides andcarbonates and the like.

The amount of catalyst to be utilized is that conventionally used inactivating the reaction, for example, up to about 15 percent by weightof an acid acting catalyst in the pad bath with the preferred rangebeing from about l percent to about 7 percent. A preferred range for thebase actingcatalyst is again the conventional amount and is generallybetween about 0.2 percent to about 16 percent and preferably about 2percent to 16 percent. The amount of catalyst to be utilized furtherwill depend in part on the temperature at which the reaction isconducted and the amount of catalyst consumed in the reaction. Forexample, when base catalysts are utilized and a highly acidic group isreleased during the reaction, the amount of base applied to the textilematerial should be sufficient to provide an excess of base in additionto that consumed by the highly acidic group.

Separate or simultaneous application of the textile resin, the textileresin catalyst and the soil release composition may be employed,provided the chelating agent is applied after the catalyst. Whentreating a textile fabric which is to be converted into work clothes, itmay be desirable to have as durable a finish as possible so that thesoil release properties will be as long lasting as possible. On theother hand, where the ultimate article of manufacture is not one thatwill be washed or cleaned on a weekly basis, for instance, the desirableproperty possibly might be to have a very superior initial soil releaseproperty. An example would be upholstery for automobiles, seat covers,wall coverings, etc.

Advantages afforded by the process of the present invention areavailable for textile materials treated in almost any form, e.g.,fibers, yarns, threads, fabrics or the ultimate product, e.g., agarment, etc. Garments made from the fabrics treated according to theprocess of the present invention require no additional steps other thanthose normally employed for the preparation of the conventional wrinkleresistant garments. in other words, the garment may be folded andpressed on conventional equipment, for example, a Hoffman press. Thepressing cycle utilized is standard in the industry and generallyinvolves pressing the garment for a short period of time, followed by acuring operation in an oven. Alternatively, the garment may be set in adesired configuration under hot, dry conditions, such as by hot pressingwithout steaming, for example, at temperatures up to about 300 C. for aslong as is necessary to cure the resin.

In general, the textile resin or vinyl monomer with dual functionalitymay be selected from several general types. According to the type ofresin or vinyl monomer selected, one of the following processes may beemployed to achieve the novel textile material produced by the presentinvention. In each type of procedure, the methods of application andorder of application of the textile resin, catalysts, soil releasecomposition, chelating agent, etc., may be varied as described herein.

TYPE I 1. Apply textile resin having one type of functional group,textile resin catalyst and soil release composition to fabric.

2. Subject fabric to conditions sufficient to cure the textile resin.

3. Apply chelating agent.

4. Dry fabric.

TYPE II 1. Apply textile resin and textile resin catalyst to fabric.

2. Subject fabric to conditions sufficient to cure textile resin.

3. Apply soil release composition and chelating agent to fabric.

4. Wash fabric.

5. Dry fabric.

TYPE III 1. Apply vinyl monomer with dual functionality, a textile resincatalyst and soil release composition to the fabric.

2. Dry the fabric at a temperature such that the textile resin catalystremains dormant.

3. Subject the fabric to irradiation.

4. Subject the garment to textile resin curing conditions.

5. Apply chelating agent.

6. Dry fabric.

Type 111 may be modified to provide a separate application of the soilrelease composition.

While the above procedures relate to the process of the presentinvention being applied to a textile material to afford the textilematerial soil release and wrinkle resistant characteristics, othermaterials such as softeners, hand builders, etc. also may be applied tothe fabric as desired.

Drying temperatures insufficient to initiate catalysis are dependentupon the particular catalyst being employed. In general, however, thedrying step is conducted at approximately to 70 yards per minute with atemperature between about 225 and 300 F., preferably in a tenter frame.The drying temperature range overlaps to some degree with the curingtemperature range set forth below. When drying in the overlappingportion of the drying and curing ranges, it is important that there beno premature curing of the textile resin. Time is the prime variable andwhen drying the substrate at a relatively high temperature, care shouldbe taken to avoid heating the substrate for a time sufficient toinitiate catalysis that would at least partially cure the textile resin.

Irradiation techniques may be employed in the process of the presentinvention 'when a vinyl monomer having dual functionality is applied tothe textile material. An insulated core transformer, operated at apotential varying between 100,000 and 500,000-electron volts, may besuccessfully used to irradiate the textile material. Such a transformeris commercially available from High Voltage Engineering Corporation,Burlington, Mass. The amount of ionizing irradiation necessatron voltsfor each ion pair formed. Both high energy particle and ionizingelectromagnetic irradiation are useful in the present invention. Thepreferred dosage of irradiation is in the range of about 1,000 rads tomegarads, a rad being the amount of high energy irradiation whichresults in energy absorption of 100 ergs per gram of absorbing material.Preferably, the irradiation dosage ranges from about 0.1 to 10 megaradsand especially between about 0.5 and 5 megarads.

Curing is accomplished with mixed snythetic/cellulosic textiles bysubjecting the textile material having the textile resin or vinylmonomer thereon to conditions such that the catalyst initiates across-linking reaction and converts the resin to a thermoset state. Whena 100 percent synthetic fabric is treated, the resin adheres to thematerial and is converted to a thermoset state. Temperature is the primemover and generally a temperature in the range of about 100 to 300 C. issufficient. The high temperature curing medium may be any substancewhich is inert to both the fabric and the ingredients applied thereto,e. g., hot air, steam, etc. In the instance where the textile resinpossesses two different types of functional groups, there are actuallytwo curing steps, the first being conducted at a temperature lower thanthe second and insufficient to initiate the second type of catalysis,e.g., a first partial curing step to initiate alkaline catalysis and asubsequent curing step to initiate acid catalysis and also convert theresin to a thermoset state.

The duration of the various processing steps will depend upon theparticular ingredients employed. In each situation, however, thetreatment time is sufficient to cause reaction and/or curing of thetextile resin, and preferably, between 0.1 to 30 minutes. The chelatingagent advantageously is applied after the resin is cured.

The following examples illustrate preferred embodiments of the presentinvention but are not intended to restrict the scope of the invention.In the examples, parts and percentages are by weight. The fabricsprepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in the examples aretested for soil release according to the following procedure. The soilrelease values are determined by comparison with a set of standardshaving numerical ratings from 1.0 to 5.0, with 1.0 representing no stainremoval and 5.0 being complete removal of the stain. The fabrics arestained with mineral oil. After staining, the fabric is washed one timein a Kenmore automatic washer using a nonnal cycle with 1 cup of Tidedetergent (sold by Proctor and Gamble) and a wash water temperature ofabout F. The fabric is dried for approximately 40 minutes at atemperature of about F. The stains in the dried fabric are compared withthe set of standards. The values listed in the tables under the headings5, l0 and 20 washes represent staining after 5, 10 or 20 normal washingsand then a single wash to remove the stain.

EXAMPLE I A white shirting fabric made from polyester and cotton fibers(65%/35% blend) is treated with an aqueous mixture containing about 18%N-methylol acrylamide (50% aqueous solution), 1.5% of a polyethylene(Lu'britron KN) and 0.1% ethoxylated nonyl phenol. The fabric is driedat a temperature of about F. for about 2 minutes and then irradiatedwith a 2-megarad dose by passing the fabric through irradiationequipment having an insulated core transformer manufactured by the HighVoltage Engineering Corporation of Burlington, Mass. The fabric iswashed with water and dried in an oven to normal moisture regain.Thereafter the fabric is treated with an aqueous mixture containingabout 35% emulsion copolymer of 75% methacrylic acid and 25% ethylacrylate (15% solids), 4.3% zinc nitrate catalyst (50% Zn(NO 611 0),0.1% ethoxylated nonyl phenol and 1.5% softeners. After the above bathis padded onto the fabric to provide about 50 percent wet pickup, thefabric is dried to about normal moisture regain and cured in an oven atabout 325 F. for

finilkelsars Washes Chelating Agent Control As Received 5.0 5.0

EXAMPLE II A fabric similar to that employed in example I is treatedwith an aqueous mixture containing 24% Reactant 100 (dihydroxydimethylol ethylene urea-50% solution), 4% M-4 catalyst (mixture of 50%MgCl 6H O and 50% Zn(NO 611 0) and 0.1% wetting agent.

The above fabric having about 50 percent wet pickup is dried to aboutnormal moisture regain, cured at 325 F. for 5 minutes and then treatedwith an aqueous mixture containing about percent of the emulsioncopolymer of example I, 1.3 percent softeners and 0.5 percent of thepentaacetic acid salt chelating agent of example I. The fabric then isdried to about normal moisture regain.

A control sample of the fabric is processed according to the aboveprocedure except the final wash is with water. Comparison of the fabricsshows the softer handle, reduced static accumulation and improved soilrelease ratings of the fabric washed with the pentaacetic acid solution.

EXAMPLE III A fabric similar to that employed in example I is treatedwith an aqueous mixture containing 18% N-methyl acrylamide (60% aqueoussolution), 4% zinc nitrate catalyst, 1% softener and 30% Acrysol ASE-60(emulsion copolymer of about 40-60% methacrylic acid and 40-60%ethylacrylate, sold by Rohm and Haas). Thereafter the fabric is driedand irradiated according to the procedure of example I. The irradiatedfabric is washed with water and dried to about normal moisture regainand cured at about 325 F. for 15 minutes. After curing, the fabric iswashed with an aqueous solution containing 1% of the trisodium salt ofethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and 0.25 percent sodium bicarbonate.

A control sample of the fabric is processed according to the aboveprocedure except the final wash is with water.

The fabric treated according to the process of the invention exhibitsthe same superiorities as the fabrics of the prior examples.

EXAMPLE IV The procedure of this example is the same as that of exampleI except 1.5 percent of the pentaacetic acid salt chelating agent isemployed in the final wash. The results achieved are the same as thoseof example l.

EXAMPLE v The procedure of this example is the same as that of example Iexcept the pentaacetic acid salt chelating agent is replaced withnitrilotriacetic acid. The results are similar to those achieved inexamq lze l.

XAMPLE VI The procedure of this example is the same as that of example11 except the pentaacetic acid salt chelating agent is replaced withsodium dihydroxy ethyl glycinate. The results of the various fabrictests are similar to those of example ll.

The above description and examples show that the present inventionprovides a novel process for producing improved textile material withsoil release characteristics. The textile material of the invention hasimproved handle and flat dry properties. In addition, the tendencytoward static accumulation is substantially reduced. Furthermore, theseimprovements are achieved without adversely affecting the soil releasecharacteristics.

It will be apparent from the above that various modifications in theformulations and procedures described in detail may be made within thescope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention belimited only by the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

l. A textile fiber material with soil release characteristics ofimproved durability including an acetic acid derivative chelating agentand a synthetic acid soil release polymer containing at least about 10weight percent acid calculated as acrylic acid.

2. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the chelatingagent is a polyacetic acid or a salt thereof.

3. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the chelatingagent is an amino polyacetic acid or a salt thereof.

4. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the soilrelease polymer is a copolymer comprising between about 10 percent andpercent by weight of an acrylic ester and between about 20 percent andpercent by weight of an acrylic acid.

5. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the textilematerial includes polyester fibers.

6. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the textilematerial is a polyester fiber/cellulosic fiber blend.

7. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the chelatingagent is a polysodium salt of an ethylene diamine polyacetic acid.

8. A textile fiber material with soil release characteristics ofimproved durability according to claim 1 including a cured epoxy, acetalor aminoplast textile resin.

9. A textile fiber material with soil release characteristics ofimproved durability according to claim 1 comprising a polyesterfiber/cellulosic fiber blend textile material including irradiatedN-methylol acrylamide, wherein the chelating agent is an aminopolyacetic acid or a salt thereof and the soil release copolymercomprises between about 20 and 80 percent by weigh of an acrylic esterand between about 20 and 80 percent by weight of an acrylic acid.

10. A textile fiber material with soil release characteristics ofimproved durability according to claim 1 including an acrylamidecompound.

11. A textile fiber material according to claim 8 wherein the textileresin comprises a methylol ethylene urea.

12. A textile fiber material according to claim 10 wherein theacrylamide compound is N-methylol acrylamide.

2. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the chelatingagent is a polyacetic acid or a salt thereof.
 3. A textile fibermaterial according to claim 1 wherein the chelating agent is an aminopolyacetic acid or a salt thereof.
 4. A textile fiber material accordingto claim 1 wherein the soil release polymer is a copolymer comprisingbetween about 10 percent and 80 percent by weight of an acrylic esterand between about 20 and 90 percent by weight of an acrylic acid.
 5. Atextile fiber material according to claim 1 wherein the textile materialincludes polyester fibers.
 6. A textile fiber material according toclaim 1 wherein the textile material is a polyester fiber/cellulosicfiber blend.
 7. A textile fiber material according to claim 1 whereinthe chelating agent is a polysodium salt of an ethylene diaminepolyacetic acid.
 8. A textile fiber material with soil releasecharacteristics of improved durability according to claim 1 including acured epoxy, acetal or aminoplast textile resin.
 9. A textile fibermaterial with soil release characteristics of improved durabilityaccording to claim 1 comprising A polyester fiber/cellulosic fiber blendtextile material including irradiated N-methylol acrylamide, wherein thechelating agent is an amino polyacetic acid or a salt thereof and thesoil release copolymer comprises between about 20 and 80 percent byweight of an acrylic ester and between about 20 and 80 percent by weightof an acrylic acid.
 10. A textile fiber material with soil releasecharacteristics of improved durability according to claim 1 including anacrylamide compound.
 11. A textile fiber material according to claim 8wherein the textile resin comprises a methylol ethylene urea.
 12. Atextile fiber material according to claim 10 wherein the acrylamidecompound is N-methylol acrylamide.